Which dog flew into space for the first time? They were the first. Dogs in space. Flights of astronaut dogs on geophysical rockets

In 1957, a month after the first artificial satellite was launched into orbit, the first living creature on planet Earth flew into space. It was a dog. This cute creature's name was Laika.

Laika's glory

The animal immediately became famous and popular throughout the planet; Laika’s fame was the envy of the most famous artists, jazz musicians, rock and roll stars and athletes, not to mention politicians. The only circumstance that darkened the joy over the next scientific and technological achievement of the space age was the death of the dog. After a six-month stay in orbit, having completed two and a half thousand revolutions around, it burned up in the atmosphere. What to do, progress entails not only the glory of pioneers, it also requires sacrifice.

No one could give a clear answer to the question of what breed of dog was launched into orbit. Laika was a “noblewoman,” in other words, a simple mongrel. Why this happened was revealed later.

Pre-flight events

Research into the influence of various factors accompanying the presence of living beings in near-Earth space has been conducted since 1951. Dezik and Gypsy became pioneers among earthlings, they had the opportunity to rise to a stratospheric altitude (100 km) in an inhabited capsule, but their flight could not be called space, although the rocket that lifted them was the same, R-7, on which they were sent a little later other astronauts into space. They did not reach orbit, but that was the plan. But Dezik and Gypsy returned safely from their suborbital “leap”.

Belka and Strelka

After a series of similar launches, the turn of space flights came. The first dog in space, Laika, died, but Soviet scientists were already solving the next problem. It was necessary to increase the mass of the payload and ensure its return to Earth.

The weight was doubled, as was the number of “passengers”. Belka and Strelka, that was their name, and they also turned out to be mongrels. Jacqueline Kennedy, receiving from N.S. Khrushchev’s unusual gift, she didn’t even ask what breed of dog was put into orbit this time. The puppy’s mother was the legendary Strelka, who had been in space, and this fact made the gift priceless.

Chernushka and Zvezdochka

Having come close to solving the problem of launching the first cosmonaut, scientists put his “model”, that is, a dummy equipped with numerous sensors, into the descent vehicle. “Ivan Ivanovich” (as he was nicknamed at Baikonur) was kept company by man’s four-legged best friend. Less than a month before Gagarin’s flight, this “couple” flew into space and returned safely. Again, it was not reported what breed of dog was launched into orbit; only its name, Chernushka, became public knowledge. Soon, to be sure of success, this experiment was repeated. The star confirmed with the means available to her that everything was fine with her.

So why are they all mongrels?

Now it’s people’s turn to storm space. And the time has come to clarify what breed of dog was launched into orbit for the first and subsequent times, and why.

The answer turned out to be surprisingly simple. When choosing a “passenger,” space industry engineers were guided by such qualities as excellent health, resistance to stress, intelligence and a good, friendly character. By the way, pilots were also recruited into the cosmonaut corps according to approximately the same basic criteria.

There were also age restrictions (up to 6 years). Weight should not exceed 6 kg. And the color was preferably light, perhaps with spots, so that the animal’s face (and even its expression) was clearly visible on the television screen.

After a long period of careful selection and training, the first dog was selected. Laika visited space, she successfully passed all the tests, showing the best results.

Most often, complex and dangerous experiments of the new science took place with the participation of experimental dogs.

Why dogs?

We know that other animals have gone into space, but dogs are particularly common participants in space experiments. Why dogs?

Firstly, science has already accumulated some experience in using dogs as experimental animals. Here it is appropriate to recall the creator of the science of higher nervous activity I.P. Pavlov, who used them in his research.

Secondly, dogs can be trained, they are attached to a person, they are easier to train to stay in a confined space for a long time, endure strong overloads and vibrations, not be afraid of loud and incomprehensible sounds, be able to stay in tight experimental equipment, allowing you to record the data obtained from sensors attached to the body .

Monkeys are more difficult to train, show anxiety and interfere, are unpredictable in behavior, and experience more stress. The United States, which originally used monkeys for space experiments, sent them into space under anesthesia. But many monkeys died from it. In addition, the data obtained from an animal under anesthesia could not be accurate.

Astronaut dogs and their offspring

What dogs were used for space flights?

Most often - mongrel and homeless. They have already undergone natural selection in conditions of the street and a wandering lifestyle. Compared to domestic and purebred dogs, mongrels have good health, ingenuity, unpretentiousness in food, and a loyal attitude towards people. But the search for suitable animals took place in accordance with the parameters of the rockets. We selected dogs no heavier than 6 kg and no taller than 35 cm. Short-haired dogs were most suitable for the correct placement of sensors. They were sent on flights in pairs to obtain more objective results, while their psychological compatibility was always taken into account. Yes, yes, dogs, like people, can also be psychologically incompatible.

Research into dog flights into the upper atmosphere and into space was carefully kept secret. Designers, scientists and even dogs were under pseudonyms. In this regard, sometimes one dog could have several different nicknames.

Periods of scientific research into animal space flights

The bulk of the experiments on launching dogs into the upper atmosphere were carried out on geophysical rockets from the Kapustin Yar test site in the Astrakhan region. The rockets reached an altitude of 100-400 km, and then their separating warheads with passengers descended back by parachute. There are three stages of such research.

First stage (July - September 1951)

It was carried out using geophysical rockets R-1B, R-1V to an altitude of up to 100 km. The dogs were in a sealed cabin, tied with belts on special trays. Having risen to the required height, the rocket fell back, and the head part with the dogs descended by parachute, which opened at an altitude of 5-7 km. With the help of scientific equipment, studies of the upper layers of the atmosphere and nearby space were simultaneously carried out.

On July 22, 1951, Desik and Gypsy became the first living beings from planet Earth, for the first time in history, to fly on a ballistic missile into the upper atmosphere to the conventional boundary with space (the Karman line) and return back alive. The launch of the R-1В (В-1В) rocket with dogs on board took place at the Kapustin Yar test site at 4:00 am. The entire flight until landing lasted about 20 minutes. The container with the dogs landed safely 20 km from the launch site. No physiological changes or abnormalities were found in them. Dezik and Gypsy safely endured the overload and weightlessness. Only Gypsy received a minor injury upon landing - he scratched the skin on his stomach. He never took part in any more flights. The gypsy was taken to his home by the chairman of the State Commission for the Organization of Research on Geophysical Rocket, Academician A. A. Blagonravov.

Desik and gypsy before the flight

On July 29, 1951, the R-1B geophysical rocket was launched with dogs Dezik and Lisa on board. Desik was sent on the flight again to check how the dog would behave during preparation and launch for the second time. The rocket launched safely, but the parachute with the dogs did not appear at the appointed time. Some time later, the cabin with the dogs was found crashed on the ground. The investigation showed that strong vibration disabled the barorelet - a device that ensures the release of a parachute at a certain altitude. The parachute did not open and the head of the rocket crashed into the ground at high speed. Desik and Lisa died, becoming the first victims of the space program.

Their death caused serious worries among researchers, in particular S.P. Korolev. But after this incident, it was decided to develop a system for emergency ejection of passengers from the rocket in the event of an emergency. The death of the dogs served as a clue for further research into human flight.

The subsequent launch of the dogs Mishka and Chizhik on August 15, 1951 turned out to be successful: freed from trays and sensors, the dogs felt great and were affectionate, despite the fact that they had recently experienced severe overload.

The fourth launch of the dogs took place on August 19, 1951 - Smely and Ryzhik successfully flew on the R-1B rocket.

On August 28, 1951, Mishka and Chizhik went into space for the second time to test a new automatic pressure regulator in the cabin. The regulator malfunctioned, and the cabin with the dogs was depressurized at a high altitude; Mishka and Chizhik died from suffocation.

On September 3, 1951, Neputevy and ZIB (Spare Vanished Bobik) flew safely into space.

Second stage (1954-1957)

The second stage of research included testing a new system of ejection equipment and means of monitoring animals at all flight levels. The flights were carried out on R-1D and R-1E rockets to an altitude of 100-110 km. Each of the dogs was placed in a separate ejected cart, which was fired from the falling head part and lowered to the ground using a parachute.

On June 24, 1954, Fox (second) and Ryzhik (second) launched on an R-1D rocket. At an altitude of 75-80 km, Fox was ejected. A specially designed parachute opened in the rarefied layers of the atmosphere. For the first time in history, a living creature was in a spacesuit in outer space and was lowered to Earth by parachute.

On July 2, 1954, Mishka (the second) and Damka flew into space. The bear died, but the Lady returned safely.

On February 5, 1955, Lisa (the second) and Bulba went into space. Almost immediately, the R-1E missile deviated from its vertical course to the side. The stabilization rudders sharply returned the rocket to its original position. The impact was so strong that both carts with dogs pierced the rocket body and fell to the ground. The dogs died.

Linda

On November 4, 1955, Malyshka and Knopka flew into space on an R-1E rocket. The baby was ejected at an altitude of 90 km and remained alive.

On June 7 and 14, 1956, Kozyavka and Albina flew R-1E rockets twice in a row. One dog had an increase in heart rate both times, while the other had a decrease.

Kozyavka and Albina

Third stage (1957-1960)

The third stage of scientific research included flights of dogs on geophysical rockets R-2A and R-5A to altitudes from 212 to 450 km. In these flights, the dogs did not eject, but escaped along with the head of the rocket. In addition to dogs, there were white rats and mice in the cabin. Twice rabbits flew with the dogs. In some experiments, one of the dogs was sent into flight under anesthesia to clarify the mechanisms of shifts in physiological functions.

On May 24, 1957, Red and Joyna set off on an R-2A rocket. The dogs died due to depressurization of the cabin during flight.

On August 25 and August 31, 1957, Belka was sent under anesthesia on an R-2A rocket. The flights were successful.

On September 6, 1957, Belka and Fashionista flew into space on an R-2A rocket. The fashionista was under anesthesia. The flight was successful.

On February 21, 1958, Palma and Fluff flew. As a result of the depressurization of the cabin, both dogs died.

Kusachka, later renamed Otvazhnaya, and Palma (the second) launched twice in a row on August 2 and 13, 1958 on an R-2A rocket. Overloads ranged from 6 to 10 units. The flight was successful.

On August 27, 1958, Pestraya and Belyanka flew to an altitude of 453 km. This was the maximum height to which the dogs climbed during the entire time and returned safely. The flight was carried out on an R-5A rocket. Overloads ranged from 7 to 24 units. After the flight, the dogs returned extremely tired and were breathing heavily, although no abnormalities in their physiology were detected.

On October 31, 1958, Zhulba and Knopka (the second) went into space. During landing, the parachute system failed and the dogs died.

On July 2, 1959, Otvazhnaya (formerly Kusachka) and Snezhinka (later renamed Zhemchuzhnaya and then Zhulka) made a successful flight on an R-2A rocket. In the cabin with the dogs was the rabbit Gray (aka Marfushka). The rabbit was tightly cast with the head and neck fixed in relation to the body. This was necessary for accurate filming of his eye pupil. The experiment determined the muscle tone of the rectus eye muscles. The material obtained in this way indicated a decrease in muscle tone under conditions of complete weightlessness.

On June 15, 1960, Otvazhnaya and Malek flew on an R-2A rocket to an altitude of 206 km. Along with the dogs, there was a rabbit named Zvezdochka in the cabin. The dog Brave made its fifth flight on a rocket, setting a record for the most number of launches by dogs. Currently, the effigy of Brave is in the State Central Museum of Contemporary History of Russia.

Brave, Rabbit and Malek

On September 16, 1960, the successful flight of the dogs Palma (the second) and Malek ended a series of experiments on launching dogs on geophysical rockets.

We talked about experimental dog flights carried out in the USSR. But scientists from the Institute of Biophysics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences also conducted similar training for dogs for flight. Two dogs flew on rockets.

Dogs flying in spacecraft

Such flights involved orbital flights around the Earth for a long time at escape velocity. The main goal was to study the influence of space flight factors on the body of animals and other biological objects (overload, long-term weightlessness, the transition from overload to weightlessness and back), to study the effect of cosmic radiation on animal and plant organisms. Biomedical experiments and scientific research into outer space were also carried out. The flights of dogs on satellite ships were supposed to prove the safety of orbital space flights for humans

Monument to the dog Laika

Laika is the first animal launched into earth orbit on November 3, 1957 on the Soviet ship Sputnik 2 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The return of Laika to Earth was still technically impossible. The dog died during the flight - 5-7 hours after launch. She died from stress and overheating. In the picture you see the monument to Laika, which is installed on the territory of the Institute of Military Medicine.

On July 28, 1960, a new type of spacecraft, Vostok 1K No. 1, was launched with dogs Lisichka and Chaika. The fox was the favorite of General Designer S.P. Korolev, to whom he said before the flight: “I really want you to come back.” After 19 seconds, block “G” of the first stage of the launch vehicle collapsed, as a result of which it fell to the ground and exploded at the 38th second. The dogs died. After this incident, it was decided to develop an emergency rescue system for astronauts not only in flight, but also at the preparation and launch stages.

Chanterelle and Seagull

On August 19, 1960, Belka (the second) and Strelka went into space. Belka and Strelka became the first living creatures to complete a daily orbital flight and return safely. During this time, the ship made 17 complete revolutions around the Earth. Some time after landing, Strelka gave birth to healthy offspring - six puppies, one of which was sent as a gift to the wife of US President Jacqueline Kennedy.

Belka and Strelka

On December 1, 1960, the Vostok 1K No. 5 spacecraft was launched with the dogs Pchelka and Mushka on board. The daily orbital flight was successful, the ship made 17 orbits around the Earth, but at the final stage of deorbiting, due to the failure of the stabilization system of the braking propulsion system, the magnitude of the braking impulse turned out to be insufficient. The descent trajectory became flatter, which threatened to land a secret object on the territory of another country. The descent vehicle did not enter the atmosphere at the expected time and was blown up by the object's automatic detonation system (APO). The Bee and the Fly died.

Zhulka and Zhemchuzhina

On December 22, 1960, Zhulka and Zhemchuzhina (also known as Zhulka and Alpha, as well as Comet and Jester) launched on the Vostok 1K No. 6 ship. Zhulka already flew on geophysical rockets under the names Snezhinka and Zhemchuzhnaya in 1959. Some time after the launch, due to the destruction of the gas generator of the third stage of the launch vehicle, it was diverted away from the course. It was clear that she would not go into space. Having reached an altitude of only 214 km, there was an emergency separation of the descent module, which landed in Evenkia in the area of ​​the Podkamennaya Tunguska River (in the area of ​​the fall of the famous Tunguska meteorite). A group of scientists urgently flew to the crash area. Due to the difficulties of the search and the extremely low air temperature, the descent module was examined only on December 25. To the surprise of the rescuers, Zhulka and Zhemchuzhina were alive, although the rest of the animals with the dogs died. Subsequently, Zhulka was taken in by an aviation medicine specialist, academician Oleg Gazenko, and she lived with him for about 14 years. Based on these events, the feature film “Alien Ship” was shot in 1985.

On March 9, 1961, a successful flight of the dog Chernushka and a dummy nicknamed “Ivan Ivanovich” was carried out on the ship “Vostok ZKA No. 1”.

Chernushka

On March 25, 1961, the flight of the dog Luck took place, to which the first cosmonaut Yu. A. Gagarin gave the name Zvezdochka before the launch. The one-orbit flight on the Vostok ZKA No. 2 ship was successful. The dummy “Ivan Ivanovich” also flew along with the dog. Along the way, photo reconnaissance equipment was tested over objects in Turkey and Africa.

There were only 18 days left before the first man flew into space!

On February 22, 1966, as part of a project to prepare for a long-term human flight in space, mongrel dogs Veterok and Ugolyok flew on the biosatellite ship Kosmos-110. Its duration was 23 days. Until now, this flight is the longest for dogs. Breeze and Coal returned extremely exhausted, with fur worn down to the skin and bedsores. They could not stand on their feet and were constantly thirsty. But after some time they recovered completely. Subsequently, they gave birth to healthy offspring and lived in the vivarium of the Institute of Aviation and Space Medicine until the end of their days.

Not many people know that more than 58 years have passed since the first flight of a living creature into space.

This animal was an ordinary shelter dog named Laika.

Despite the rapid death of the dog during the flight, this event became evidence that a living organism can withstand weightlessness and fly safely to the Moon.

Preparing for the flight and a disappointing outcome

During training runs, not only dogs, but also rats and monkeys were used as experimental creatures.

Scientists decided to send dogs into space because they are calmer and more obedient (compared to chimpanzees).

According to the characteristics of the Sputnik 2 device, the maximum weight of the animal should not exceed 6 kg.

But tiny decorative breeds of dogs were not considered as the first astronauts, since they have weaker immunity and psyche compared to mongrels.

In addition, the dog had to be white in order to stand out effectively in the frame.

Laika was selected from three trained dogs by elimination, since one of the dogs at that moment was in an interesting position, and the other was experimental with congenital external defects (crooked paws).

Before launching the device to the Moon, Laika underwent surgery to introduce special sensors that monitor breathing and pulse.

Detectors were sewn into the animal's costume to record its activity. The spacecraft for the flight of a living organism to the Moon was developed without preliminary sketches and models in an extremely short time.

Therefore, the doom of the “space animal” was obvious. During the flight, the animal behaved calmly, and the pulse eventually returned to normal.

She died a couple of hours after the device was launched due to overheating (the temperature in the container exceeded 40 C).

Having corrected the design errors, the dogs Belka and Strelka were sent into space, and they managed to return safely to Earth after a 25-hour flight.

The public at that time was not ready to accept such a fatal outcome of a living being in space.

The whole world learned about the fate of poor Laika. Animal welfare organizations cast Khrushchev in a bad light as a soulless knacker.

Special protests were organized to stop this treatment of animals for the benefit of science and technological progress.

Having received the first flight of an artificial satellite to the Moon with delight, society was not ready for such “lethal” news.

Media reports were saturated with irony regarding the fate of an ordinary mongrel.

However, the test dog gave the developers the opportunity, taking into account past mistakes and bad experiences, to finalize a spacecraft in which a person could be sent to the Moon.

When initially developing the plan, scientists were going to euthanize Laika. The Soviet people were looking forward to the return of the unharmed creature to Earth.

For this reason, the outcome of this flight for the public became extremely negative.

But Laika has since become known as an astronaut hero. Photos of her are available in many space museums.

The children received Laika's death with particular trepidation. Taking into account recommendations from the Ministry of Education, explanatory conversations were held in all educational institutions.

They concerned the following issues:

• Space exploration is a national task.
• The life of an ordinary mongrel is incommensurable in comparison with future achievements.
• It was after the flight to the Moon that Laika became famous throughout the world.

But the public could not calm down for a long time. They said with sarcasm that Khrushchev himself should fly to the moon next.

Many letters came to the state capital asking for the dog to be awarded a military rank and the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

The heroically deceased astronaut dog became a brand of cigarettes (other products were also planned).

A monument to the brave astronaut Laika was erected in Greece as an exhibit of the Homo Sapiens Museum.

Photo gallery

Laika's flight into space, which took place on November 3, 1957, was truly of global significance. We invite you to look at several surviving photographs of this four-legged hero.

The first manned space flight took place on April 12, 1961. They still teach about this in school. Less well known are other heroes - dogs who fearlessly paved the way for the exploration of outer space. Sometimes for this they sacrificed their health, and sometimes their lives.

Most space tests involving dogs were carried out in the 50-60s of the last century. The intensity of such experiments at that time was enormous, since they were talking about the primacy of man in space. Most of the cosmonaut dogs were launched in aircraft of the USSR and China.

Before humanity could cross the boundary between the upper atmosphere and space, it was decided that animals would be the pioneers. Two candidate species were selected: dogs and monkeys.

During the selection period, scientists found that monkeys are not so successful in training and learning, their capricious nature often manifests itself, they often behave restlessly and are unpredictable in their actions. The dogs, on the contrary, willingly interacted with the researchers and were less susceptible to stress.

Scientists emphasized that the dogs should be ordinary mongrels who were picked up for research simply on the street. This was explained by the fact that they had already undergone natural selection, and therefore were endowed with excellent physical characteristics.

Thoroughbred representatives were significantly inferior in the following characteristics:

• excellent immunity and regenerative reserve of the body;
• ingenuity and learning ability;
• unpretentiousness in nutrition and excellent digestion;
• devotion and desire to please the person.

Special requirements were applied to physical parameters:

• height no higher than 35 cm and weight up to 6 kg - this was required based on the size of the cabins in the rockets;
• short hair – necessary for tightly attaching sensors to the body;
• females - it was easier for them to develop a urine drainage system in space;
• age - from 2 to 6 years;
• white coat color - for the most advantageous appearance on television.

Animals were launched into space in pairs to ensure average results.

Geophysical rockets

Research on launching dogs into space on this type of aircraft was carried out in three stages:

• Height up to 100 km. The rocket's speed was 4.2 thousand km/h, while the acceleration was enormous and the overload reached 5.5 units. The animals were tied with special straps in trays. After reaching the maximum height, the head compartment with the dogs was lowered to the ground by parachute. Often experiments ended in minor injuries to animals, and several times they resulted in death.
• Height up to 110 km. The animals ejected in spacesuits using parachutes and sometimes one of the two companions returned, and sometimes everything went well. The duration of such flights did not exceed 20 minutes.
• Altitude up to 450 km. At this stage, the animals landed without ejection, in the head compartment of the rocket. Sometimes animals of other species (rabbits, rats, mice) joined the dogs. On one flight, the animals were under general anesthesia.

Test progress

Flight data was strictly classified. The animals were given pseudonyms, so for a long time there was confusion in information about the participants.

Dogs were paired up based on mental compatibility and comfort of interaction, so it was impossible to replace partners. One day, a flight was in jeopardy because one dog, who was supposed to fly the next day, ran away during an evening walk. However, he returned the next morning and began to lick people's hands with a guilty look. The flight took place.

The scientists treated the animals very warmly: despite the fact that the food was balanced and strictly coordinated, everyone tried to quietly bring something tasty to their pet from home. Even Korolev, who supervised the progress of all tests, training and experiments and advocated for the implementation of prohibitions, could not resist the temptation and fed the pets. He perceived the injuries and loss of each dog very painfully, not only from the point of view of failures in the promotion of astronautics, but also as a personal guilt towards his devoted animals. Many pets, after completing their mission, were taken home by employees of the testing center.

Pioneer

The first dog to go into orbit was two-year-old Laika. The employees of the testing center gave her this nickname because she barked often and loudly. Her real nickname was Kudryavka. Before flying into space, the animal was surgically implanted with breathing sensors and a pulse sensor. She was gradually accustomed to a place in the cabin so that she felt familiar there. To do this, she spent a little time every day in the compartment where she would be located after takeoff.

Before the start, Laika was dressed in a special jumpsuit, which was attached with wires to the equipment. The length of the wires was enough for her to change her body position: freely stand up, sit down and lie down.

On November 3, 1957, Laika was launched into space. It was initially planned that its flight would continue for a week, but the animal died after completing 4 orbits around the Earth in 6-7 hours. The cause of death was overheating due to a design error. After this, the spacecraft continued to orbit the planet until April 1958, after which it burned up in the upper atmosphere.

Information about Laika’s death was kept silent, news about her condition was broadcast for another week, and then the media announced that the dog had been euthanized. This news caused a wide resonance and was received sadly by the Western media.

The next step on the path to space exploration was the task of successfully returning living beings to earth. The difficulty was the long stay of animals in a small space. Although the flight should last about a day, the dogs were prepared for an eight-day stay in orbit.

There were many contenders for the sensational stage of space research, but Belka and Strelka were the clear favorites. The squirrel was very active and took the lead during all tasks. Strelka, on the contrary, showed extreme restraint, but was very affectionate and friendly.

The flight took place on August 19, 1960. At first, after entering orbit, the animals had an excess of pulse and respiration, but in a short time all indicators returned to normal. For the first time, television tracking was provided, so scientists on Earth could receive video from a ship in space.

Belka and Strelka quickly returned to normal in space, but at a certain moment Belka’s condition worsened. She began to feel nauseous and became restless. After landing, tests showed that the animals were stressed, but in a short time the condition completely stabilized.

The dogs immediately became stars, their photos and videos spread all over the world. The first animals to successfully return from space continued to live in the research center. A few months after the space trip, Strelka became the mother of six strong puppies.

Both dogs lived to a ripe old age while in the care of the state.

Their flight was the last step on the path of man into space. But the flying dogs didn’t stop there. They are still being carried out now, but with new neighbors on board - human cosmonauts. It is thanks to their presence that it is possible to study and monitor the biochemistry, genetics, and cytology of living organisms in space conditions.

On April 12, the whole world celebrates Cosmonautics Day. It was then, back in 1961, that the first spacewalk was made by Soviet pilot-cosmonaut Yuri Alekseevich Gagarin.

In order for a person to be able to travel into space without fearing for his health and without putting his life in danger, years of scientific research and many practical experiments were needed.

It's no secret that long before people saw the Earth through the window of a spaceship, animals had already been in space. When placing furry astronauts on which would take them beyond the Earth's atmosphere, man carefully monitored how the first animals behaved in space and how they felt. Special equipment made it possible to monitor even minor changes in the functioning of their body systems. These data made it possible to improve the technology of aircraft operation, so that in the future it would be possible to launch a person into space without risk to his health.

The most common myth

Which animals were the first to be sent into space? To many, this question will seem elementary. Most often, in response, we heard that the first animals to see space were a couple of mongrel dogs named Belka and Strelka. And, to the surprise of many, we have to report that this answer is incorrect.

But who was the first?

At the initial stages of research, American scientists sent primates into space. These animals were chosen because of their physiological affinity with humans.

The first one was carried out by NASA specialists on June 11, 1948. Unfortunately, the monkey did not survive during this experiment. The next few launches of living creatures had the same outcome. But during these flights, it was still possible to collect information that made it possible to improve technology, and animals that flew into space began to return safely to Earth alive and healthy. In the 60s, they also began to carry out flights into orbit.

A total of 32 primates were launched into space as part of US scientific programs between 1948 and 1969.

Dogs' space travel

At the same time, in parallel with America, the Soviet Union carried out its space exploration. Dogs were more often used for them. Do you know what the first animal was that flew into space from the Russian cosmodrome?

Dezik and Gypsy - these two yard dogs on July 22, 1951 went on a ballistic missile into the upper atmosphere. Having reached the conventional boundary with space, which is located at an altitude of 100 km, they safely landed on the ground in a special capsule. The flight lasted 20 minutes, and after it both dogs felt great. Exactly a week later, another flight was made, which ended less successfully. Desik, who was re-sent into space, and another rocket passenger, a dog named Fox, crashed upon landing because the parachute, which was supposed to ensure a smooth landing of the capsule, did not open.

The first victims of space experts caused anxiety among the leaders of this experiment. But the research did not stop. In total, between 1959 and 1960, 29 suborbital flights were carried out, in which dogs, rabbits, white rats and mice participated. Some of the first animals in space were under anesthesia during their journey so that the physiological state of the body could be studied.

Animal flights into orbit

The first flight into orbit with living beings on board was carried out on November 3, 1957. And if before this animals were sent in pairs, now a single dog named Laika has become a passenger on the Soviet ship Sputnik-2. Although technically the return of the dog was not possible, she died during the flight, after 5 hours, having completed 4 full revolutions around the Earth. The cause of her death was severe stress and overheating of the body. Laika is the first animal to fly into space into orbit and, unfortunately, not return.

The next time a satellite with live passengers on board was sent into orbit only three years later. It happened on July 28, 1960. The flight was also unsuccessful, the spacecraft exploded 38 seconds after the engines started. In this experiment, Chanterelle and Seagull.

And so on August 19, 1960, the Sputnik 5 spacecraft went into orbit, made 17 orbits around the Earth and landed successfully. All this time, the well-known Belka and Strelka were on board. After several more similar successful flights were completed in March 1961, the decision was made to send the first man into space.

Selection of animals for experiments in space

The first animals in space were for a reason; they were carefully selected and underwent special training before the flight. It is interesting that when selecting dogs to participate in flights, they gave preference to the yard, outbred individuals, since they are physically more resilient.

For orbital flights, healthy dogs weighing no more than six kilograms and up to 35 cm tall, aged from two to six years, were required. It was most convenient to place sensors that read information on short-haired animals.

Before the flight, the dogs were trained to stay in closed chambers simulating the cabin of a spacecraft, not to be afraid of loud sounds and vibrations, and to eat using a special apparatus that serves food in zero gravity.

Interesting facts about the first flight of Belka and Strelka into orbit

They say that he opened the way to the stars for people.

Few people know that in fact these cute dogs were called Albina and Marquise, but before the start of the experiment an order came to replace foreign nicknames with Soviet ones, and now the first animals in space, who were in orbit and returned safely to Earth, are familiar to us under the names Strelka and Belka.

The dogs were chosen from a large number of applicants, but in addition to the basic physical parameters, coat color was important. Light-colored animals had an advantage, which made it easier to observe them through monitors. The attractiveness of the dogs was also an important factor, since if the experiment was successful, they would certainly be presented to the general public.

Although the estimated duration of the flight of Belka and Strelka was one day, during training and testing the animals were in conditions close to the flight for up to eight days.

During the flight, she worked on board and, using a special apparatus, served food and water to the dogs in zero gravity conditions. In general, the animals felt good, and only during the launch of the rocket did they experience this indicator. This indicator returned to normal when the spacecraft reached orbit.

After the animals’ success was accomplished, it became clear that humans would also be able to travel beyond the earth’s atmosphere and return safe and sound.

Other animals that have been in space

In addition to primates and dogs, other animals have also traveled beyond the earth's atmosphere, such as cats, turtles, frogs, snails, rabbits, mice, cockroaches, newts, and even some species of fish. Many will be interested to know that on March 22, 1990, a chick from a quail egg was able to hatch on the Mir spacecraft. This is the first fact of the birth of a living being in space.

Can animals reproduce in space?

But the fact that a previously fertilized egg can develop and hatch a chick in space conditions does not mean that animals and plants can reproduce in space. NASA scientists have proven that cosmic radiation has a detrimental effect on the reproductive function of living beings. Due to the numerous flows of protons in outer space, germ cells cease to perform their function. Conception becomes impossible in this case. Also, during the experiments, it was not possible to preserve already conceived embryos in space. They immediately stopped developing and died.